SCDN sat down with District 90 State Representative candidate Gina Collingsworth to talk about what inspired her run for the seat formerly held by Bryan Baldridge. The 90th District includes Scioto, Adams, and part of Brown Counties. The lifelong Scioto County resident describes herself as a Conservative Republican, America-First patriot, and faithful Christian.
Collingsworth said the beauty of coming from a small town is that you hardly ever see a stranger. Her family ran Bridwell’s general store. “They had food and shoes and seed and lawnmowers. That was my first job. I would clean and check people out. I think that job heightened my awareness between people who had opportunities and people who didn’t have opportunities.”
“The difference between then and now,” Collingsworth said, “is that back then you were very protected. You could go out all day and play in your yard or ride your bike and go in when you got hungry. You could explore everything, and the community kept an eye on you. For the most part, that’s changed. Everybody keeps a closer watch on their kids.”
Collingsworth said she worries that all of the access to the world kids have on smartphones and other devices without filters is detrimental to children. “I still think that in today’s world, you have teachers that care and church family and organizations like 4-H.” She says she’s optimistic about today’s youth despite the challenges. “Our community will overcome.”
Collingsworth has also been involved in various forms of media since she was 12. “I auditioned for a show called ‘Kids Mag’ at WOWK in Huntington. “I was a news girl at 12 years old. We got to meet a lot of people. I met Governor Jay Rockefeller.”
Gina says music is a huge part of her and her musician husband’s life as well since they work together in a music publishing company. “Communications are the heart of everything I do. I did USO tours when I was in college, but I always wanted to come home.”
Collingsworth ran for the same office back in 2018 and lost the race despite winning the vote in Scioto County. She says that experience taught her not to give up and to prepare for the next opportunity. “I never gave up on the idea of running again.”
She says her job working as the public information coordinator for the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission has given her valuable experience that will help her in office. “Economic and community development, infrastructure, transportation planning… It’s a job that connects federal and state dollars to local and regional planning. It’s been eye-opening and helped me grow. I have contacts all over the state. I know where the money is. I know the programs you can connect to.”
Collingsworth says she wants to avoid being part of the political machine. “I’m an outsider. I’m not connected politically. It’s just an extension of what I’ve been doing in the community. I just want to show people my heart. I’m taking it to the voters.”
Gina Collingsworth will have six months until the March 2024 primary election to convince voters that she’s the person to unite the district’s contentious Republican party.
If she wins the primary and goes on to win the November election for the seat, Collingsworth says better Internet access is one of her top priorities.
“I see broadband access as an equalizer for Appalachia. We all know that Appalachia has been left behind. If we can get broadband, we can build our economy and keep our young people here.“ She says her husband’s experience of spending hours trying to upload music files as part of their business made her keenly aware of the issue. She says providing broadband is just as important as the push to electrify rural areas back in the 1930s.
Tourism is also near the top of her priority list. “We have a fantastic natural beauty. Hocking Hills has millions of visitors a year, and it’s stressing the park. The organizers are saying, ‘Let’s push them down to Shawnee.’ There’s lots of opportunity for tourism.”
Collingsworth will also focus on the rural industrial park loan program that helps communities bring manufacturing to rural areas. “You pipe in the water and the gas lines that industry needs. You even build spec buildings. Then industry comes here and employs people.”
Gina Collingsworth says she remains optimistic. “I believe our best days are ahead. That’s why I’m investing my time and energy into running for office.”